One of Earth’s Driest Places Experiences Rare Flower Boom

August 30, 2017 - It may not look it, but this is one of the driest places in the world. After heavy rainfall, Chile's Atacama Desert exploded with thousands of colorful flowers. The phenomenon is called desierto florido (flowering desert). Over 200 species of flowers inhabit the desert. Some lay dormant in the soil for years until rainfall causes them to sprout. Superblooms are particularly rare in the Atacama where some regions have never recorded rainfall.

One of Earth’s Driest Places Experiences Rare Flower Boom

August 30, 2017 - It may not look it, but this is one of the driest places in the world. After heavy rainfall, Chile's Atacama Desert exploded with thousands of colorful flowers. The phenomenon is called desierto florido (flowering desert). Over 200 species of flowers inhabit the desert. Some lay dormant in the soil for years until rainfall causes them to sprout. Superblooms are particularly rare in the Atacama where some regions have never recorded rainfall.